Folding coop.



W O 9. l l,

G, U A D E ,Uy T A D..

E. K N .A R nr R. H.

`FOLDING cooP. APPLICATION FILED .)"A1I.13,.1905.4

` Inventor M HERMAN R. FRANKE, OF BRENHAM, TEXAS. i

FOLDING COOP.

Specification 4of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug'. 1, 1905.

Application led January 13, 1905. Serial No. 240,936.

To all whom it map concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN R. FRANKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brenham, in the county of Washington and State' of Texas, have invented a new and useful Folding Coop, of which the following is a specication. f

This invention relates to folding poultrycoops and similar structures, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction and increase the utility and convenience of handling devices of this character.

With these and other objects in View, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of theinvention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved device in extended or operative position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device in extended position, and Fig. 3 is 'a transverse section of the device in collapsed or folded position.

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective View, enlarged, of the lockingfbolt.

The improved device comprises a bottom member l0, preferably of imperforate material and with side members 11 and 12, and top 13, preferably with perforated portions,l as

shown. The side members are hinged, as at f 14 15, to the bottom member, and likewise hinged, as at 16 17, to the top members, so that the members may be extended, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or collapsed, as in Fig. 3.

The end members of the device (indicated as a whole, respectively, at 18 19) are formed of iexible material, so that they will readily collapse as the coop is folded and without presenting a bulging appearance or forming unsightly protuberances.

The flexible ends are formedof a plurality of rings 20, connected by radiating rods 21, the rods movably connected by the ends to the rings, as by relatively large loops 22, and with the exterior rods connected movably, as by loops 23, to the adjacent side, top, and bottom members of the cocp. By this means it will be obvious that one set of the rods 22 are disposed parallel to each other and to the top and bottom members and the other set of rods disposed parallel to each other and to the side members, and will retain these positions at all times whether the coop be extended or folded. Thus theend members freely collapse or extend with the other portions and without buckling or bulging or presenting unsightly protuberances.

The rings 20 and rods 21 will preferably be of metal of sufficient strength to withstand the strainsto which they will be subjected.

Pivoted to swing, as at 25, in the bottom member y10 are locking-levers 26 for projection upwardly to bear against the interior of the side member 12, and thus lock the coop in distended position, the lock-levers foldable `into recesses, as at 27, in the bottom member and be out of the way when the coop is to be collapsed.

The free ends ofthe lock-'levers are offset laterally, as at 28, and provided with recesses 29 for engaging spring-catches 30 on the side member 12, and thus retain the lock-lever yieldably in elevated or operative position, as irrFig. 2. l

The side member 12 is provided with a swinging door 31, by which access may be had to the coop, and the locking devices are also accessible through the door.

Any suitable kind of material may be employed in the construction-of the device, and it may be of any desired size or capacity.

The hinges may be extended from side toside of the framework to form building-straps to strengthen and support the same.

Having thus described the invention, what 'is claimed is- 1. Acrate having foldably-connected frame members, opposite walls having longitudinal and transverse filling elements connected at their intersections and capable of relative angular movement.

- 2. A poultry-coop having the bottom, sides .and top foldably connected and with the ends constructed of a plurality of rings movably coupled by rods and with the exterior rods vcoupled movably at their free ends to the adjacent members of said bottom, sides and top, whereby said ends of the coop are collapsible with the folding of the parts and without producing bulging or protruding portions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature iii the presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN R. FRANKE.

Witnesses:

A. M. KRUG, F. LANGE. 

